Puppy trained at prison will be a companion to boy with leukemia

12:43 AM,
Mar. 29, 2013

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

He's only got a little more time in prison before he starts a new life, and he'll probably spend most of it wagging his tail.

Striker, a 7-month-old mutt with plenty of energy, is just about done being trained for a special new owner. He's one of 11 dogs who came from the Marion County Dog Pound to be trained by inmates at the North Central Correctional Complex, privately operated state facility in Marion.

Striker was adopted by a family in Shelbyville, Tenn., to be a "battle buddy" for 11-year-old Mark Kelly Olson, who has leukemia. Sgt. Darick Starcher, who is in charge of the dog training, will ...